This May 12, 2012 photo shows Philadelphia Eagles coach Todd Bowles during the Eagles NFL preseason rookie camp in Philadelphia. The Eagles have fired defensive coordinator Juan Castillo and replaced him with secondary coach Todd Bowles. The Eagles made the move Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012, with the team stuck at 3-3 after blowing a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter of a 26-23 overtime loss to Detroit.(AP Photo/Brian Garfinkel) MANDATORY CREDIT MAGS OUT TV OUT

PHILADELPHIA — Todd Bowles isn’t certain if he will call defenses from the field or the press box when the Eagles oppose the Atlanta Falcons Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

With Hurricane Sandy looming, the newly appointed defensive coordinator might want to stay upstairs, where he worked as secondary coach.

Bowles can say with certainty the so-called predictability of the defense amplified by critics of fired coordinator Juan Castillo wasn’t the reason the Eagles lost their last game in overtime to the Detroit Lions.

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“We lost because we lost,” Bowles said. “We didn’t make enough plays to win the game. It wasn’t because we were predictable or unpredictable.”

Predictability or a lack thereof has ignited a furor among players who felt their quotes were twisted merely to bash Castillo.

Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham, the part-time pass rusher, insisted his use of ‘predictable’ wasn’t intended to blame Castillo for the shortcomings of the players, as reported by a website.

“I didn’t want to come off like I was blaming anybody,” Graham said Thursday. “I respect Juan as a coach. I respect his personality and everything. I talked to him about it and basically let him know that isn’t what I was trying to do.”

Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who ranks among the league leaders with three interceptions, was bitter about what he feels are wrong and distorted perceptions of Castillo.

“When things go bad, people are going to pick on something,” Rodgers-Cromartie said. “But I didn’t see those problems with the defense. Just look at the statistics. Juan is my guy. He’s the one who turned me into a press corner last year and this year. He was always willing to help you. He was great at picking out the weakest part of your game and staying with you after practice to help you work on it. Juan made me a better player, taught me how to take better advantage of my speed.”

“Everybody is entitled to their opinion and can say what they want but I was always taught that everybody should be accountable for himself. It’s easy to blame other guys when something goes wrong. That’s the way I feel.”

The Eagles (3-3) are 12th overall in yards allowed (330.8), third in third-down defense (29.1 percent) and 11th in points allowed (20.8). The red zone defense is third-best in the league.

But the Eagles have just eight takeaways, tied for eighth in the NFL.

With the offense turning the ball over 17 times, 13 of those miscues by quarterback Michael Vick, the Birds are next-to-last in the league with a minus-9 turnover ratio.

The Eagles’ pass rush also has been anemic. The Birds have failed to register a sack in three straight games and are next-to-last in the league with 7 sacks. The league average is 15 sacks per team.

While players insist they don’t expect major changes, Bowles freely admits he has his own way of looking at football. He isn’t Castillo.

Falcons head coach Mike Smith hopes it takes the Eagles at least as much time to get used to Bowles as it does preparing for him.

“We’re going to get some un-scouted looks, I’m sure of that,” Smith said on a conference call. “We’re not anticipating they’re going to switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 by any means. But I think the way that the game is going to be called is going to be probably different.

“The situational football, the most important plays, the third down plays, the red zone plays, the plays that really make a difference in a game I’m sure are going to have a little different philosophy with coach Bowles. I know coach Bowles has a great reputation. He’s worked with a couple of guys on our staff so we are somewhat familiar with him although not as a defensive coordinator calling a game.”

Rest assured whatever happens this weekend Bowles is going to consider the source of those predictability questions.

Predictability can be a good thing. The Eagles’ 1991 defense — perhaps the best in the history of the franchise — was predictable.

“Every defense is going to have a base where they’re going to be predictable,” Bowles said. “No matter what team you’re on or what coach you have, everybody’s going to have a scheme. Our scheme is the wide-nine. You know that going in. You play as hard as you can and you keep your base core and game plan-wise, you try to adjust and tweak some things as you see fit, if that fits the game plan. If it doesn’t, you always come back to your core.”

“So, it’s not as much as being predictable. It’s just trying to get your playmakers in better position to make more plays. I don’t think that’s unpredictable or predictable. It’s just getting to see what your guys can do best and letting them do it.”